2. Dax
DAX
If there was anything in the world that I’d never learn to like or adjust to, it was early mornings.
I don’t care how much coffee I’m plied with or how many snuggles and kisses I get from my guys, one wrong move, and I was stabbing a bitch.
Harper was still pissed at me, and I couldn’t quite figure out why exactly.
This couldn’t be worse than me lying about my whole entire life, could it?
“Do you have everything from the apartment? Because we aren’t coming back until all of this is over,” Ghost warned. “Even then, it might be too risky depending on how this all settles.”
“Yeah, we didn’t have all that much in the first place,” Wes answered as he put the last of our things in the vehicle.
“Just follow us, and we’ll take you to the new safe house. It’s around the Newark area so we’re still close,” Jaxson added as their crew got in their SUV.
No one really talked, and I curled up with Sprocket in the back to try and get a little more sleep as he combed his fingers through my hair. Even with the added help, I couldn’t stop thinking about what got under Harper’s skin now.
“Hey,” I murmured. “I could use your insight on Harper if you have any thoughts.”
Sprocket’s hand stilled for a moment, then he continued as he hummed in thought.
“That’s hard because there are a few situations where she might not be mad at you at all.
The triplets let mention there was an altercation where they had to shoot a guy in front of her, but I don’t think Harper’s been exposed to the dark much.
Then again, she could be pissed you took her from the home she loves, one of her men got hurt, or you executed two people without blinking an eye. ”
“Wow, those are all such great options,” I grumbled. “So, she could be pissed at me for something I did or just pissed because of the world I dragged her into?”
“Those are my guesses,” Sprocket affirmed.
“You know I’m going to get so good at the touchy-feely talks at this rate.” I sighed, looking out the window at the city going by.
Sprocket chuckled and kissed my forehead before resting his head on mine. “Don’t change too much on us, little rebel. I like a challenge, and figuring out your mind is one I enjoy when you’re not trying to get yourself killed.”
“Nice clarification there,” I teased, letting the conversation drop into a comfortable silence.
The drive to the new location wasn’t long, but it certainly was different.
We were deep in the urban neighborhoods with houses so close together.
There was a mix of older homes and those that had been remodeled and updated.
There were tall, narrow townhouses squished side by side, then next to that was a two-story colonial with a small yard.
Lots of chain-link fences and people walking down the sidewalks as they got kids to school.
It was an interesting blend of a city feel with a community that seemed slightly more suburban.
The house the triplets’ SUV pulled up to was definitely a step down from the New York highrise.
It was a narrow, two-story brick-front home but went way back, proving to have more space than you’d guess.
Jaxson hopped out and opened the gate that fenced off the alleyway between two identical buildings.
Behind the house was a garage that only held one car, but there was ample space for us to park out of the way and be completely hidden from the street.
Thankfully, there was an entrance at the back of the house so we wouldn’t be seen coming and going.
We stepped into what looked like a laundry room that also served as a mud room to leave our shoes and such.
Everything about the house was dated and looked like it came out of the eighties with the shag carpet and dark wood.
“This place isn’t something we ever planned on using,” Magnus informed us.
“We got it on auction and rented it to the family who was still living here until two years ago. The kids grew up, and their mom, a single parent, didn’t need a huge place so she found something else.
When we were starting out, we needed a way to have a legit business to start funneling money through so we got into property management. ”
“It’s got six bedrooms, they might be small, but I think we can all manage,” Ghost said as he flicked on the living room lights.
“To help her out, we decided to buy all the furniture she didn’t want so we could rent this place fully furnished.
I have no idea what you’re going to find since we’ve just had our management company checking in on the place. ”
Harper wrapped her arms around Ghost’s waist. “I think it’s super sweet you did that for her.”
“We try to put good karma back in the world on occasion,” Jaxson said with a shrug. “If someone had done that for our mom, who knows what might have happened.”
While the house might be dated, the furniture was nice and well taken care of. We all ended up finding a place in the living room, looking at each other like someone had an idea of what to do next.
“Anyone talked to Tommaso yet?” I asked.
“Spitfire, it’s only eight o’clock. I feel like it’s a little rude to call that early,” Picasso pointed out.
My hand flew up, pointing an accusing finger at him. “Then why the hell are we up and already moved locations?” I demanded. “You even admit this is an ungodly hour.”
“Oh, give it a rest, Dax,” Harper snapped. “You didn’t lose the perfect home that you’d just gotten set up for the future you were starting to picture.”
“Gorgeous, we told you we’d have everything pulled out of the house and stored until we found a replacement. Just so we’re clear, this isn’t it,” Jaxson assured her. “There are tons of other highrise apartments in New York we can buy.”
“That’s not the point,” Harper whined. “There’s never going to be a place we can stay forever. We’ll always be moving or dealing with the dangers because that’s what this life is.”
Magnus pulled her from her spot next to him so she was straddling his legs, facing him. “Doll, we’ve never lied to you about this, and it’s not the first time we’ve been in danger. What makes this different?”
I held my breath as I waited for her to answer, praying it was something we could work through. Knowing the triplets, there was no way in hell they were letting her go, and neither was I. As selfish as it sounded, I’d do whatever it took to keep her in my life.
“Because when you told me all this, I don’t think I really absorbed what that meant.
” She sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Ignore me, I’ll be fine.
It’s my fault. You asked me to stay home, and I refused, wanting to be a part of this.
I love you and the others with all my heart, and this won’t change that. ”
Shifting, she looked over at me, her eyes sad, but they also showed me that the reality of this life was hitting her.
“I love you too, Dax, and I don’t hold what you did last night against you.
I’m just going to need a little time to wrap my head around it all.
Two awful, terrible men, were just executed in front of me, followed by an angry mob.
I was convinced I’d lose one, if not all of you, last night.
I don’t like feeling so out of control… that’s what has me rattled.
You all live in chaos, and that’s not the world I’ve known.
I just need to find where I fit, and last night showed me how little I truly understand. ”
All her men converged around her to soothe her nerves and console her, which is exactly what she needed.
Now that she’d been honest with all of us about what was bothering her, we could help her move forward.
Harper wasn’t built for this, but she was trying to adjust because she loved her men.
Last night was too much too fast, and we need to be better about explaining that to her.
I patted Cognac’s leg and motioned for him to follow me, hoping the others would do the same.
I headed to the second floor, where there were five rooms, meaning another was downstairs.
Peeking in all of them, it was clear to see that they’d once been the kids’ rooms based on the bold color choices on the walls.
The last room at the end of the hall was the largest and had two twin beds set up.
Flopping down on one, I looked at my guys as they filed into the room.
“So it’s clear to me that we need to make a bigger effort in keeping Harper out of things if we can,” I reasoned.
“She’ll still want a purpose,” Cam said as he sat beside me. “Harper’s never been one to leave work to others if there’s work to be done.”
“True, but finding something we can have her do away from the real action has to be a thing,” I countered. “Speaking of out of the action, any new thoughts on the whole FBI situation?”
“No, but give me time, and I’ll get there,” Cam assured me. “What we really need to worry about is now that you called Marco out, what’s he going to do next?”
“He’s lost his connection to the States now that Diego is gone,” Cognac commented. “I imagine he’s losing his mind wherever he’s hiding out.”
That had me snapping my finger with an idea. “Wes, is there any way for you to possibly hack into the feed they were broadcasting from at the fight?”
Wes frowned as he scratched his chin. “If Betta could give me a backdoor into their systems, that could be a possibility. I’d need some way in… they’re locked down tighter than a virgin nun.”
“Really?” I drawled with a raised brow. “Had the occasion to find that out?”
Weston rolled his eyes. “When we started this whole thing with them, I tried to hack into their system, but they’re smart and keep most of it offline unless they’re using it like for the video feed.
If Betta could plug in a jump drive with a tracer for me to follow, I’d be able to get into their network and find what I need to trace the video feed. ”